Apparatus and Method for an Elastic Drawstring Trash Compactor Bag

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward an elastic drawstring trash compactor bag, the bag having an upper opening, a hem located along the upper opening of the bag, an elastic drawstring disposed within the hem, the upper opening of the bag defining a circumference of less than 50 inches in a relaxed state, and the upper opening of the bag being expandable such that the exertion of force expands the circumference in a stretched state. Furthermore, the upper opening of the bag retracts when the exertion of force is removed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction andmanufacture of polymeric bags. In particular, the present inventionrelates to improvements in the construction and manufacture of polymericbags for use in trash compactors.

2. Description of the Related Art

Polymeric bags are ubiquitous in modern society. The widespread adoptionand use has resulted in polymeric bags being available in differentcombinations of material, capacity, thickness, dimensions and color. Interms of potential applications, polymeric bags may be used for productpackaging, long-term storage of goods, food storage, and trashcollection among other uses. In response to consumer demand,manufacturers of polymeric bags have developed innovative, newtechnology over the years to improve the utility and performance ofpolymeric bags. The present invention described herein is one suchimprovement and is of particular interest to the use of polymeric bagsfor residential or office trash compactors.

Trash compactors are used in numerous applications to reduce the volumeof a particular amount of waste material that must be hauled away anddisposed. In commercial settings, trash compactors are frequently usedto compact cardboard boxes and other bulky paper material into smallersizes. In this example, the compacted cardboard can then be bundled andshipped off for recycling or reprocessing. Reducing the volume of thecardboard material results in less frequent trips to haul the materialaway for recycling, meaning increased efficiency as a result of reducedtransportation costs. It is also common to find compactor bags in homeand office settings in the form of under-the-counter trash compactors.Like their commercial counterparts, the home and office compactorsminimize the size of the trash that must be hauled away. The presentinvention is directed primarily toward bags used in suchunder-the-counter trash compactors.

Trash compactor bags are a good example of a niche market of trash bags.Trash compactor bags must be specially designed to address the uniquechallenges presented by use in a residential or office trash compactor.Several different types of bags have traditionally been used inconnection with trash compactors. One example of a trash compactor bagis the heavy paper compactor bags which are similar to paper grocerystore bags. The paper compactor bags are usually sized to fit instandard-sized compactors, but must be specially coated with a plasticfilm or other liquid-impermeable layer to prevent leakage of the paperbag when liquids are present. The coating layer and the higher costs ofpaper bag manufacture make paper compactor bags markedly more expensivethan plastic compactor bags, which in contrast do not require specialcoatings.

Although plastic compactor bags do not require special coatings toprevent leakage of liquids placed in the compactor, plastic compactorbags must be significantly stronger than similarly sized plastic trashbags for several reasons. First, the compactor mechanism itself raises arisk that the bag will be punctured or torn during operation—either bythe compactor mechanism itself or by objects in the trash compactorbeing forced into the sides of the bag. Additionally, as plasticcompactor bags carry significantly more trash by weight than an typicaltrash bag of the same physical size, the plastic compactor bag must bestronger than a typical plastic trash bag to ensure that it does not ripwhen the bag is being carried or during removal from the compactor.Therefore, a thicker, stronger bag is used to reduce the risk ofpuncture or tear.

One of the biggest problems with plastic bags used in home or officetrash compactors is that the bags are not rigid and therefore cannotstand on their own within the receptacle of the trash compactor.Therefore, the upper opening of the plastic compactor bag must besecured over the upper lips of the trash receptacle. Furthermore, as thetrash compactor mechanism operates to compact the trash, it has atendency to pull the sides of the plastic bag downward and can evenresult in the bag falling into the receptacle. To attempt to addressthese issues, plastic compactor bags in the prior art have been designedto be significantly longer than the height of the trash compactorreceptacle. The longer length is used to pull the upper opening of thebag far down over the upper lips of the receptacle. However, aftercompaction, a person may still need to readjust the bag by pulling thebag over and around the receptacle.

Drawstrings have not historically been incorporated into trash compactorbags for several reasons. First, the manufacturing processes of thickerdrawstring bags are significantly more complicated than those used tomanufacture thinner drawstring bags. All drawstring bags require thatcertain holes and cut-outs be provided in the drawstring bag while alsorequiring that the drawstrings be sealed within hems located at the topof the bag. These processes are significantly more difficult as thethicknesses of both the bag material and the drawtape increase.Additionally, prior art drawstring bags adapted for use with a trashcompactor would suffer from the same deficiencies as twist-tie orwave-cut bags. In particular, typical prior art drawstring bags wouldstill require considerable additional length to allow the bag to besufficiently pulled over the upper lips of the receptacle. Theadditional length required increases the amount of material needed tomanufacture the bag, which in turn drives up the cost of the product.

To address the foregoing challenges, the present invention introduces anew apparatus and method for keeping compactor bags securely on thetrash receptacle by providing an elastic drawstring trash compactor bag.The present invention addresses the need for a trash compactor bag whichprovides a positive gripping force around the outside of a trashreceptacle when placed thereon. The present invention further addressesthe need for a bag which does not require any additional length or theuse of superfluous material to allow the bag to be sufficiently pulledover and around the receptacle of a trash compactor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an improved construction oftrash bag for use in a trash compactor. In particular, the presentinvention is directed toward an elastic drawstring trash compactor bag,the bag having an upper opening, at least one hem located along theupper opening of the bag, and at least one elastic drawstring disposedwithin the at least one hem. The upper opening of the bag defines acircumference of the bag being less than 50 inches in a relaxed state.When a force is exerted by a person in an outward direction along theupper opening of the bag, the circumference of the bag can be expandedto be greater than 50 inches in a stretched state. Furthermore, theupper opening of the bag retracts and grips the receptacle when theoutward force is removed.

It is contemplated that the present invention may be utilized in waysthat are not fully described or set forth herein. The present inventionis intended to encompass these additional uses to the extent such usesare not contradicted by the appended claims. Therefore, the presentinvention should be given the broadest reasonable interpretation in viewof the present disclosure, the accompanying figures, and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

A full and complete understanding of the present invention may beobtained by reference to the detailed description of the presentinvention and preferred embodiment when viewed with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The drawings can be briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of an elastic drawstring trash bag ascontemplated by one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of an elastic drawstring trash bag ascontemplated by one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a cross-sectional view of the hem region of an elasticdrawstring trash bag as contemplated by one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 provides an enlarged view of the short seal region of an elasticdrawstring trash bag as contemplated by one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure illustrates one or more preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. It is not intended to provide an illustration orencompass all embodiments contemplated by the present invention. In viewof the disclosure of the present invention contained herein, a personhaving ordinary skill in the art will recognize that innumerablemodifications and insubstantial changes may be incorporated or otherwiseincluded within the present invention without diverging from the spiritof the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the present inventionis not limited to those embodiments disclosed herein. The appendedclaims are intended to more fully and accurately encompass the inventionto the fullest extent possible, but it is fully appreciated that certainlimitations on the use of particular terms is not intended toconclusively limit the scope of protection.

An elevation view of an elastic drawstring trash compactor bag 100 isdepicted in FIG. 1 to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The same embodiment is also depicted in a perspective view inFIG. 2 to provide a better understanding of the present invention. Inthe depicted preferred embodiment, the elastic drawstring trashcompactor bag 100 is a polyethylene bag constructed from a first panel102 and a second panel 104. The elastic drawstring trash compactor bag100 has two side edges 108 and a bottom 106. The upper edges 112 of thefirst panel 102 and second panel 104 define the upper opening 120 of theelastic drawstring trash compactor bag 100. The length of the bag fromthe upper edges 112 of the bag to the bottom 106 of the bag ispreferably 25 to 35 inches in length.

In the depicted embodiment, the first and second panels 102 and 104 areformed from a single polyethylene sheet which is folded in half. Thefold of the polyethylene sheet forms the bottom 106 of the elasticdrawstring trash compactor bag 100. After the polyethylene sheet isfolded, side seals 110 are provided which run substantially the entirelength of the bag along a line spaced slightly inside the sides 108 ofthe first and second panels 102 and 104. Although this is the preferredmethod of construction, a person of ordinary skill in the art wouldrecognize that the present invention is not necessarily limited to thisconstruction method and that alternative bag construction techniques maybe used without diverging from the spirit of the present invention.

As can be better seen with reference to FIG. 3, an elastic drawstring116 is disposed within hems formed in the elastic drawstring trashcompactor bag 100. To provide the hems for containing the elasticdrawstrings 116, the uppermost portion of the first and second panels102 and 104 are folded over the elastic drawstrings 116. A hem seal 114is then provided on each panel 102 and 104 to close the hem,encapsulating the elastic drawstrings 116 within the respective hem. Thehem seal 114 may generally be formed by applying a combination of heatand pressure to each panel, sealing the two layers of polyethylene filmtogether. Furthermore, the bag 100 may provided with air ventilationholes 122 which allow the air within the hem to escape duringmanufacture and use.

The materials used in constructing the present invention are markedlythicker than those used in a typical plastic trash bag. For example, thetypical thickness of the first and second panel in a traditionaldrawstring trash bag as known in the prior art may only be in the rangeof 0.6 to 1.2 mils (0.0006 inches to 0.0012 inches). However, thethickness of the first and second panels 102 and 104 for an elasticdrawstring compactor bag as disclosed herein would typically be between1.75 to 3.25 mils, and preferably in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 mils.Likewise, the elastic drawstrings 116 are also thicker than drawstringsused in an typical trash bag known in the prior art.

The drawstrings in a typical trash bag are generally 1.5 to 2.5 mils inthickness. Drawstrings are commonly made predominantly from high densitypolyethylene which results in the drawstrings resisting a tendency tostretch. Furthermore, in the event that the typical drawstring stretchesafter applying a large amount of force, it will not retract in anymeaningful way. In construction of the depicted embodiment of thepresent invention, a combination of elastomers and polyethylenematerials are used to provide an elastic drawstring 116 that stretches acertain amount when an outward force is applied to the elasticdrawstring 116. More importantly, the elastic drawstring 116 retractswhen the force is removed. The elastic drawstring 116 of the presentinvention is generally between 3 mils and 6 mils in thickness, with apreferred thickness of approximately 4.5 mils.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper corner of an embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 4, the short seal 118 can be seen that islocated in the upper corner of the elastic drawstring trash compactorbag 100. The short seals 118 are provided to seal the first panel 102and the second panel 104 to the respective ends of the elasticdrawstrings 116 disposed within each hem. Furthermore, each short seal118 welds a large area of the first panel 102 to the second panel 104.

Looking now back at FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the width of the upper opening120 of the elastic drawstring trash compactor bag 100 is defined by thedistance between the inner edges of the two short seals 118. The totalcircumference of the upper opening is therefore two times the distancebetween the inner edges of the two short seals 118. The standard home oroffice trash compactor has a rectangular trash receptacle withdimensions of approximately nine inches by sixteen inches. Therefore,the total circumference of the trash receptacle of the trash compactoris approximately fifty inches. A large majority of trash compactors havea trash receptacle with a circumference within one linear inch of thissize. Therefore, the upper opening 120 of the elastic drawstring trashcompactor bag 100 may be selected to provide a circumference, in arelaxed state, of less than 50 inches, preferably 46-49 inches.

When a force is applied, the elastic drawstrings 116 are elongated. As aresult, the elastic drawstrings 116 will stretch with the first panel102 and the second panel 104, and consequently the circumference of theupper opening 120 will increase to allow the upper opening 120 of thebag to stretch over the upper lips of a compactor trash receptacle.After stretching the upper opening 120 over the upper lip of the trashcompactor receptacle, the force is removed and the elastic drawstrings116 will have a tendency to retract. Since the circumference of thetrash receptacle is greater than the upper opening 120 of the bag, theelastic drawstrings 116 will contract to fit around the trashreceptacle, providing a holding force for the bag. The holding forcereduces the likelihood that the elastic drawstring bag 100 will fallinto the receptacle during use of the trash compactor.

As noted, the embodiments depicted herein are not intended to limit thescope of the present invention. Indeed, it is contemplated that anynumber of different embodiments may be utilized without diverging fromthe spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intendedto more fully encompass the scope of the present invention.

1. An elastic drawstring trash compactor bag comprising: a bag having anupper opening, at least one hem located along the upper opening of thebag, at least one elastic drawstring disposed within the at least onehem, the upper opening of the bag defining a circumference of less than50 inches in a relaxed state, the upper opening of the bag beingexpandable to a stretched state by an outward force applied to the upperopening of the bag, and the upper opening of the bag retracts when theoutward force is removed.
 2. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 1,further comprising: the bag comprising a polyethylene.
 3. The elasticdrawstring bag of claim 2, further comprising: the bag having athickness of between 1.75 mils to 3.25 mils.
 4. The elastic drawstringbag of claim 3, further comprising: the thickness of the bag beingapproximately 2.0 to 2.5 mils.
 5. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 4,further comprising: the thickness of the bag being approximately 2.0mils.
 6. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 4, further comprising: thethickness of the bag being approximately 2.5 mils.
 7. The elasticdrawstring bag of claim 1, further comprising: the at least one elasticdrawstring having a thickness of between 3 mils and 6 mils.
 8. Theelastic drawstring bag of claim 5, further comprising: the at least oneelastic drawstring having a thickness of approximately 4.5 mils.
 9. Theelastic drawstring bag of claim 1, further comprising: the circumferenceof the upper opening being between 46 and 49 inches in a relaxed state.10. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 9, further comprising: thecircumference of the upper opening being approximately 46 inches in arelaxed state.
 11. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 9, furthercomprising: the circumference of the upper opening being approximately47 inches in a relaxed state.
 12. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 9,further comprising: the circumference of the upper opening beingapproximately 48 inches in a relaxed state.
 13. The elastic drawstringbag of claim 1, further comprising: an air ventilation hole locatedalong the at least one hem.
 14. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of air ventilation hole located alongthe at least one hem.
 15. The elastic drawstring bag of claim 1, furthercomprising: a length of the bag from the upper opening of the bag to abottom of the bag being between 25 inches and 35 inches.
 16. The elasticdrawstring bag of claim 1, further comprising: the length of the bagbeing between 27 and 30 inches.
 17. The elastic drawstring bag of claim1, further comprising: the length of the bag being between 28 and 29inches.